Betdistrict.com
Oklahoma City Thunder will host San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals, with the Thunder having the chance to end the series after stealing Game 5 on the road and claiming a 3-2 lead.
OKC needed a lot of time this season to start playing elite basketball consistently, but it was not a big surprise considering they hired a new, rookie coach in Billy Donovan. Thunder finished 3rd in the West and really stepped it up in the playoffs, winning 4-1 against Dallas and putting themselves in a position to close out the series against the great Spurs in this Game 6.
The Spurs had a regular season for the ages, posting 67 wins with just 15 losses (good enough for 2nd seed) and started the NBA playoffs with the same tempo, demolishing Memphis 4-0 and winning Game 1 against OKC by 32 points. However, San Antonio lost 3 of the next 4 matches against OKC and finds itself facing elimination today, on the road. Despite playing well overall, San Antonio had stretches of very poor play at times, particularly in the last 4 minutes of Game 5 when they blew what seemed a sure win.
Place your bets now at 1xBet.com with the best odds for Thunder vs Spurs Game 6!
The Thunder did a truly exceptional job in turning this series around after getting destroyed in Game 1. I honestly did not believe they will stay alive for more than 5 or 6 games, but here they are leading 3-2. Durant and Westbrook were exceptional, players like Adams stepped up and coach Donovan did a fantastic job, making some great adjustments.
However, with all due respect to the Thunder, fact is that Spurs should have really won at least one more game in this series. They had the last shot to win Game 2 and lost (deservingly), led by 6 points early in the 4th quarter in Game 4 and lost (deservingly) and they simply blew it two days ago in Game 5, a game they really should have won. Also, there were a few horrible referee decisions going against them late in the three above mentioned matches. All of SA’s losses could have been wins, while OKC can`t say the same.
Two days ago in game 5, Spurs led by 13 points midway trough the third quarter and had a 6 point advantage with 4 minutes to go – but from that moment onwards they simply collapsed. They should have won the game despite disastrous performances from Duncan and Aldrige, along with rather poor nights from Ginobilli, Parker and even Kawhi Leonard. They also gave OKC 15 offensive rebounds and got outrebounded by 18! Even so, the win was in their hands.
Listen, if Spurs get outrebounded by 20 again and keep missing open shots, if 4 of their 5 top guys have another horrible night, while Durant and / or Westbrook have monster games, then San Antonio will lose. But I honestly doubt all these things will happen. I can see coach Pop mixing it up a bit, maybe giving Boban Marjanovic a few minutes to help under the glass (and limit Duncan’s minutes), maybe playing trough Leonard & Aldgrige more than trough veterans like Parker. Popovich dare I say got outsmarted by Donovan in the last 2 games and I just can’t see the best coach in the NBA having no solution against a top coach, but a rookie coach.
San Antonio’s collapse late in Game 5 is a sign of worry, but I do believe they showed the better basketball in this series and are a better team overall than OKC – having much more experience at this level as well. With a bit more aggression and with 1-2 more players stepping up, Spurs should be able to even the series, despite the fact that winning in OKC is never easy. This superb series deserves a Game 7 and I believe that will be the case. My tip on this one is a straight up Spurs win, as the point spread is at -1 (after the bookies opened with Spurs as a 2,5 point spread favorite, which I think was a more accurate assessment). Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 96-99.
Pick: San Antonio Spurs
Odds: 1.88 @ 1xBet
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 7.92
Event date: 13 May
